Bairoko Harbor was attacked by destroyers and torpedo boats, and bombed by B-17 Flying Fortresses. On 2 August, XIV Corps informed Liversedge that Munda Point was reached and his force should cut off retreating Japanese near Zieta. On 9 August, the Northern Landing Group linked up with elements of the 25th Infantry Division advancing from Munda Point and assumed control of the 1st Marine Raider Regiment. Scattered fighting continued around Bairoko until 24 August when it was occupied by the 3d Battalion, 145th Infantry. The Japanese defenders, the Special Naval Landing Force men, had pulled out by sea. Occupying Corrigan’s “Christian Rest and Recreation” camp of thatched lean-to’s, the Marines totaled their casualties for this effort; regimental headquarters had 1 killed and 8 wounded, 1st Raider Battalion lost 74 killed and 139 wounded, 4th Raider Battalion had 54 dead and 168 wounded; and all suffered from the unhealthy conditions of the area. By 31 August 1943, the 1st Marine Raider Regiment was back on Guadalcanal for reorganization scheduled in September, officially noting the presence of “bunks, movies, beer, chow.”
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 60483
The dead had to wait until the wounded were taken care of and the battlefield was secured to be buried. In some cases it was not until after the Japanese had withdrawn or been solidly beaten before burial details could recover the dead Marines.
[Sidebar ([page 4]):]
Under The Southern Cross
Marine Troop List
- I Marine Amphibious Corps[B]
- Forward Echelon
- Medical Battalion
- Company A
- Company B
- Motor Transport Battalion
- Company A
- Signal Battalion
- 1st Medical Battalion[B]
- Detachment
- 1st Marine Raider Regiment[A]
- Headquarters Company
- 1st Raider Battalion
- Headquarters Company
- Company A
- Company B
- Company C
- Company D
- 4th Raider Battalion
- Headquarters Company
- Tank Platoon
- Marine Aircraft Group 25[C]
- Headquarters
- Marine Service Squadron 25
- Marine Transport Squadron 152
- Marine Transport Squadron 153
- Marine Transport Squadron 253
- Flight Detachment
- Marine Fighter Squadron 121[A]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 122[A]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 123[B]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 124[C]
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 132[A]
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 141[C]
- Marine Torpedo-Bomber Squadron 143[C]
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 144[A]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 214[C]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 215[C]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 221[C]
- Marine Fighter Squadron 222[B]
- Flight Detachment
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 232[B]
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 233[C]
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 234[C]
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 235[B]
- Flight Detachment
- Company N
- Company O
- Company P
- Company Q
- 2d Marine Aircraft Wing[A]
- Forward Echelon
- 2d Separate Wire Platoon[A]
- 3d Special Weapons Battalion[B]
- 4th Defense Battalion[B]
- Headquarters & Service Battery
- 155mm Artillery Group
- 90mm Antiaircraft Group
- Special Weapons Group
- 9th Defense Battalion[A]
- Headquarters & Service Battery
- 155mm Artillery Group
- 90mm Antiaircraft Group
- Special Weapons Group
- Tank Platoon
- 10th Defense Battalion[A]
- Tank Platoon
- 11th Defense Battalion[A]
- Battery E
- Battery K
- Marine Scout-Bomber Squadron 236[B]
- Marine Night Fighter Squadron 531[A]
- 2d Platoon, Battery A
- 4th Base Depot[B]
[A] New Georgia only
[B] Vella Lavella only